THERE'S NOTHING more scary than grabbed from behind and getting dragged into the corner of the club where no one could see you. I kicked the culprit who had my mouth covered with their hand. Eventually, I was dropped but before I could run away, the hand curled around my throat, slamming me into the wall and I faced Ghost. He looked exactly what my mom would warn me against. His arms were covered in tattoos, the rest of the trail hidden under the black shirt he wore. Candy wasn't joking when she said he was attractive. Full lips, perfect nose, tanned skin and eyes like honey that were narrowed at me.
"Who are you?"
I opened and closed my mouth, too shocked to respond. His voice was deep and rich. Ghost raised an eyebrow that had a scar running through it.
"Do you speak English?"
I tried to pull his hand off my throat in vain. "Malia," I whispered then remembered the role I was playing. "I mean, Milan."
"Malia or Milan?"
F*ck, I was going to die.
"Milan."
Suspicion was painted across his handsome face. "I haven't seen you before."
"I'm new."
"Have you done this job before?"
"Once or twice."
Out of nowhere, he lifted me up so my legs were around his hips and leaned into me. The hand on my neck didn't move as his lips moved towards mine which were open in shock. "I don't believe you for a second, Malia," he muttered in my ear, sending shivers down my body at the sound of my name. "I just want to know why you and that b*tch of a man are in my club."
"He's my friend," I said breathlessly as I met his intense gaze that was trying to figure me out. He cupped one of my breasts in his hand and rubbed it using his thumb over the material of my bra.
"Don't lie to me then," he murmured. "Your friend can't help you. He's already drugged and tied up in one of the rooms. So let me ask you again. Why are you here?"
"I wanted to find out who Ghost is."
I wasn't stupid. I couldn't expose my job but this man could see straight through my lies so I settled for being semi-honest especially as he called Harry a b*tch. It seemed to be the right answer as he smirked. "Do you? All you b*tches are the same."
"I'm no b*tch," I hissed at him as his grip on my ass tightened. Something in me wanted his approval and I hated it. Amber eyes focused on my lips.
"You're not the only girl here who wants to get to know me but let me tell you the truth. I'm no one."
"That's not true,"I argued.
"You're wrong."
Ghost pressed his mouth to mine, kissing me slowly and grinded against me so I felt the bulge behind his jeans. I grabbed onto his shirt as he held me by the neck, keeping me in place as he kissed me with more force. And I let him. Groaning, I allowed his tongue to coax my mouth open in order to deepen the kiss. His free hand roamed my body which was burning up despite being barely covered. The idea that he was the enemy and no one would know what we were doing, made the experience more risky but also what made me pull him closer. Seconds later, he leaned back, not breaking eye contact.
"I want you to take your friend and leave," his voice husky. "The next time I see you, he can't be there or I'll kill him. Do you understand?"
Nodding, I tried to get my heart to calm down.
"Good girl. Tomorrow, I want you here at seven." He released my neck and let me slide down him so I was standing.
I held onto his arms to stop myself from falling. "Don't tell me what to do," I shot back.
He pulled out a gun and held it to my temple. "I'm not asking."
The cold metal was like a splash of water. I stood my ground, concealing the fear that shot through my body. We glared each other, neither wanting to back down until I gave in. I needed more information and Harry was f*cking caught.
"Tomorrow," I confirmed.
*****
"No. Out of the question."
The director shook his head at me while Harry held an ice pack to his head where a bruise had formed. We were sitting in the living room in the temporary base that was a dingy apartment near the club. It was small so I was sharing a bunk bed with another agent, Ali, who was out patrolling, leaving me to argue with no one on my side to let me go.
"I'm sorry, Dad," I replied sarcastically. "But this is Ghost. Do you think he's going to react well if I don't turn up?"
"You can't go alone," Harry said.
I rolled my eyes at him. "Because that worked. You were no f*cking help since you were caught in five minutes."
"Harry isn't wrong," the director agreed. "He pulled out a gun on you."
"Well, he isn't a saint."
"Why does he want to see you?" Harry questioned and I shrugged in response.
"How should I f*cking know? What I do know is that it's six pm and I haven't slept for two days. Goodnight."
I left the men alone and went to my bedroom, laying on the bottom of the bunk bed. My thoughts drifted to the memories of the club which kept playing over and over again. I groaned, frustrated with how easily I gave into him. An assassin. A murderer. A f*cking good kisser. I rolled over, trying to forget and focus on sleeping.
"Malia."
I groggily opened my eyes, staring into disapproving amber ones. "Ghost," I whispered in panic. He lay over me and grabbed my jaw before I could think of screaming.
"Your friends are outside and I have three bullets with their names on it." The warning sunk in.
"How did you find me?"
He tapped his temple. "You don't need to know. You didn't listen to me."
The heat from his body soaked into my clothes and I resisted leaning into him. "I fell asleep."
"I'll forgive you. One more chance. Midnight at the club or I set here on fire."
"You're a f*cking psycho."
He kissed me swiftly. "And you're a b*tch that won't do as it's told. You have two hours."
Getting up, he opened the bedroom door and walked out as if there weren't other people in the house. I laid there waiting for the yells but none came. Did they not see him? I got up and rushed to the living room, surprising everyone. "Ghost was just here," I exclaimed. They all rose, immediately alert.
"How?" The director looked p*ssed. "None of the alarms were alerted."
"Did you really not see him walk past?" I asked. The seriousness was settling in and we were understanding the meaning behind his name.
Harry swore then faced me. "What did he say?"
"I should go to the club like I said or he'll burn the building. This time I'm going. He's already suspicious of us."
"Go, then," the director gave in. "Wear something that won't draw attention to yourself."
"Should I wear nothing?"
"Be serious," Harry chided, glaring. "He's a killer."
"I'm a stripper," I fired back. "So don't tell me how to act."
The director exhaled harshly. "It's been barely a day and this mission is already a problem."
"Well, he is crazy," I pitched in. "He somehow found out where I'm staying, broke in, left without a sound, knocked out Harry in the club and is carrying a loaded weapon."
"All I want to know is who he's working for, Malia. Then we're leaving. It's too dangerous and we don't have enough people."
Harry placed a silver bracelet in my hand. "It has a tracking device in it. Just in case. If you don't return in twelve hours, we're coming."
Ali entered the room at the same time I left the bedroom after changing. "He's not outside, sir."
I looked down at my red mini dress. "This dress is so impractical. There's nowhere to hide a gun and I'm not seducing him. He's not stupid."
"Do you want me to drop you?" Ali offered.
"No, I'll be fine."
Hopefully.